Sex offender notifiication: Roland Edward Tarbutton Jr.

Delaware State Police troopers are notifying Dover residents of a homeless Tier III sex offender living in the area.

Staff reports

Delaware State Police are advising Dover residents of a homeless sex offender who is living somewhere in the area.

The man is Roland Edward Tarbutton Jr, 70, who was convicted in 1985 of second-degree rape.

Tarbutton is a Tier III, or high-risk offender.

He is described as a white man, standing 5 feet 11 inches in height, weighing 180 pounds with gray hair and blue eyes. He has a tattoo of a flower on his left ankle and of the word “Shirly” on his upper left arm.

Police emphasize that Tarbutton is not wanted for any crime; state law requires police to notify area residents when a known sex offender is living in their neighborhood. Law enforcement officials use the media to notify the entire community when a sex offender is listed as homeless.

Anyone with information that Tarbutton is occupying a residence in the Dover area is asked to call (302) 672-5306, or use the Delaware State Police Mobile Crime Tip Application available at www.delaware.gov/apps.

Information also may be provided to Delaware Crime Stoppers at (800) TIP-3333. Information also may be provided via the Internet at www.tipsubmit.com. Send an anonymous tip by text to 274637 (CRIMES) using the keyword “DSP.”